Twenty four runners took part in an extreme endurance event on The Wrekin in Shropshire, with just one completing the full distance.
The Hill challenge returned for the first time in five years and required competitors to run 56 laps up and down the hill. The course amounted to 160 miles and involved a total climb of 47,000ft, all to be completed within a 48 hour limit.
By the end of The Hill challenge, Sarah Perry from Cockermouth in Cumbria was the only remaining participant. She finished in 47 hours and one minute.
“The last third of the race was hard. The biggest difficulty was the lack of time,” she said. Ms Perry set a women’s ultramarathon world record in October.
She acknowledged the difficulty of preparing for The Hill challenge so soon after that achievement.
“I knew that six weeks to recover and build back up was a big ask, but I’ve wanted to do The Hill for so long and this was the first time it’s been run in five years, so I just had to be on that start line,” she said.
“I’m thrilled to have finished and, quite honestly, can’t believe that it was possible for me.”
Participants in The Hill challenge are largely unsupported. Runners are not permitted sticks, pacers, supporters, headphones or outside assistance, and cannot rest for longer than 30 minutes at a time. Leaving the route to sleep or gather supplies is also prohibited.
All competitors must have a DNF plan in place to ensure they can leave the course safely if they are unable to continue.
Ms Perry explained that she deliberately avoided stopping during the race.
“I chose to skip breaks and ignore things that I’d usually get sorted, like wet socks and sleep deprivation, and instead chose to keep on the hill,” she said.
“Unlike in backyard ultra races, there are no scheduled breaks so I was constantly doing the calculations in my head to figure out whether I could complete it.
“Often there was no wiggle room.”
The nearest challenger to Ms Perry completed 41 laps before withdrawing. Several runners left the race during the first night, with more retiring across Saturday and Sunday.
Wayne Edy, founder of sports brand INOV8, which sponsors Ms Perry, praised her performance in The Hill challenge.
“We are incredibly proud of Sarah and her incredible achievements,” he said.
“They are just reward for the many, many hours of commitment she has put into her training and the sport.
“Sarah is small in stature but big in grit and determination.”
